Opposition leader Bill Shorten has made an impassioned plea to stop giving "oxygen" to the "evil jokers at the margins" who perpetrate hate speech, following the Christchurch massacre. Mr Shorten spoke to a group of Melbourne's Islamic community on Saturday afternoon, when he said the majority of Australians felt "impotent, outraged, disgusted, ashamed" at Friday's mosque shootings. He later told reporters that Labor would support a parliamentary censure motion of "rogue" Queensland senator Fraser Anning following comments widely condemned as anti-Islamic. Speaking at the Islamic Council of Victoria and supported by fellow MPs Mark Dreyfus, Peter Khalil, Maria Vambakinou and Tim Watts, Mr Shorten said most Australians stood in solidarity with the Islamic community. "There are...millions of Australians who feel solidarity with you today," he said during his speech in Melbourne, adding he was in a room full of people who were "first and foremost" Australians. "It was an Australian who did this, but this is not an Australian who represents Australia. "Now is the time to repudiate once and for all not just the violence, but the circumstances, the hate speech, that fuels the violence." He later described Senator Anning's comments - blaming the Islamic community for the Christchurch massacre - as "disgusting". "This fellow is chasing a headline," he told reporters. "I do wonder if he's made Australians less safe overseas. "That's another reason not to give this fool any more oxygen." Mr Shorten said Australians should "call time" on hate speech. "For those who believe freedom of speech extends to hate speech...can't you call time on this?" he said. "We've got to pull time on these fringe dwellers, these evil jokers at the margins." Mr Shorten's presence was welcomed on Saturday by Mohamed Mohadeen, president of Islamic Council of Victoria. "We are a resilient community," he told attendees at the event, which included prayers and blessings for the New Zealand victims. "We will overcome this hate." Australian Associated Press

Bill Shorten slams hate speech 'jokers'

Bill Shorten has made a plea to stop giving "oxygen" to those who perpetrate hate speech.

Opposition leader Bill Shorten has made an impassioned plea to stop giving "oxygen" to the "evil jokers at the margins" who perpetrate hate speech, following the Christchurch massacre.

Mr Shorten spoke to a group of Melbourne's Islamic community on Saturday afternoon, when he said the majority of Australians felt "impotent, outraged, disgusted, ashamed" at Friday's mosque shootings.

He later told reporters that Labor would support a parliamentary censure motion of "rogue" Queensland senator Fraser Anning following comments widely condemned as anti-Islamic.

Speaking at the Islamic Council of Victoria and supported by fellow MPs Mark Dreyfus, Peter Khalil, Maria Vambakinou and Tim Watts, Mr Shorten said most Australians stood in solidarity with the Islamic community.

"There are...millions of Australians who feel solidarity with you today," he said during his speech in Melbourne, adding he was in a room full of people who were "first and foremost" Australians.

"It was an Australian who did this, but this is not an Australian who represents Australia.

"Now is the time to repudiate once and for all not just the violence, but the circumstances, the hate speech, that fuels the violence."

He later described Senator Anning's comments - blaming the Islamic community for the Christchurch massacre - as "disgusting".

"This fellow is chasing a headline," he told reporters.

"I do wonder if he's made Australians less safe overseas.

"That's another reason not to give this fool any more oxygen."

Mr Shorten said Australians should "call time" on hate speech.

"For those who believe freedom of speech extends to hate speech...can't you call time on this?" he said.

"We've got to pull time on these fringe dwellers, these evil jokers at the margins."

Mr Shorten's presence was welcomed on Saturday by Mohamed Mohadeen, president of Islamic Council of Victoria.

"We are a resilient community," he told attendees at the event, which included prayers and blessings for the New Zealand victims.